DRIFT BACK TO WORK

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 5, 1 October 1926, Page 9

DRIFT BACK TO WORK

WORST DAY FOR MINERS SINCE STRIKE BEGAN

FRANTIC EFFORTS TO STOP BREAKAWAYS

RESPONSIBLE LEADERS HEARTILY SICK OF STRUGGLE

The drift back to work, of miners in Britain has increased rapidly, and the men’s leaders are making frantic efforts to counter the movement. The debate at the delegates’ conference showed that the responsible leaders were heartily sick of the struggle, and few now favour a fight to a finish. According to the "Daily Herald’’ the conference will refer the Government’s proposals to the districts for a .vote. . BY TELEGRAPH.—PBSSS ASSOCIATION.— OoPtHTSHt.

London, September 29. To-day nas been the worst day for the miners since the strike began. A total of 149,223 men are now employed in coal-producing pits, an increase of 11,745 to-day. Breakaways have also commenced in the Rhondda Valley, where before the strike 100,000 were employed. The miners’ leaders are making frantic efforts to counter the movement, urging the men to await the result of the district delegates’ conference, which opened to-day in London. The drift back to work is regarded as most serious, many delegates holding the view thab if a settlement is much longer delayed there will be no jobs for the remaining strikers to fill. Moreover,’ every 10,000 men returning makes the coal owners less inclined to meet the Miners’ Federation. This viewpoint dominated the whole discusion regarding the Government’s offer of an appeal tribunal. There is a general feeling that the districts should be consulted. Nevertheless, there is a marked difference of opinion regarding what advice, should be tendered to the districts regarding the offer. The matter was finally’ adjourned till to-morrow. The debate showed that the responsible leaders were heartily sick of the struggle. Few now favour a fight to a finish.

VOTE ON GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSAL

COAL RATIONED IN PUBLIC OFFICES

“BEATEN BY STARVATION”

MR. COOK WILL ROUSE BRITISH PUBLIC

'(Rec. September 30, 5.5 p.m.) , London, September. 80. , The “Daily Herald” states that it .is understood the delegateeconference today will decide to refer the Government proposals to the districts for a vote, the result to be considered at a resumed conference on October 6.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE’S VISIT TO RUSSIA POSTPONED

London, September 29.

Mr, A. J. Cook, secretary of the Miners’ Federation, before leaving for Ostend by aeroplane, addressed a trade unionist meeting in London. He said the miners were going back beaten by starvation. He hated the word retreat,

but that was what it amounted to. Even now the miners would not surrender to slavery. The Government terms would never be accepted voluntarily or officially. He added: “If we are driven back through lack of support, we will build up a great organised army, and then rouse the British public, as it has not been roused since Gladstone’s denunciation of the Armenian atrocities, for a greater atrocity is being perpetrated to-day on the miners’ wives.” COMMUNIST IMPRISONED APPEALEDTOMINERS TO PULL OUT SAFETY MEN (Rec. September 30, 8,20 p.m.) London, September 29. For publishing a leaflet appealing to the striking miners to pull out the safety men, Douglas Spnngliall, secretary of the • Young Communists’ League, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment under the Emergency Regulations. The publisher was fined £lOO on the ground that the pamphlet tended to prolong the dispute and encourage strikers to act illegally.—Sydney “Sun” Cable.

' London, September 29. A quaint sidelight on the coal dispute is thrown by a Government regulation. Ordinarily’ October 1 is fixed as lighting day for fires in Government offices, but instructions to-day were given not to light, unless the temperature was below 58 degrees. Each fireplace will then be rationed with 101 b. of coal dailv.

Owing to the unsettled industrial position Mr. Lloyd George has postponed ti'U the spring his visit to Russia, where the Soviet had already arranged full facilities to enable him to see the actual state of affairs in Russia,